Navratri and Orchestra: My Memories

The season of Navratri brings with it a unique energy of music and devotion. As Navratri 2025 unfolds, I find myself reflecting on a period of my life when I spent several years performing with orchestras, including BG’s Musical Group and others, during Navratri and other shows.

BG’s Musical Group

My first experience with orchestras was with BG’s Musical Group. Led by the respected Mr. Bhula Ghosh, this group included many of Nagpur’s senior and top artists. Even while I was studying engineering in college, it was essential for me to perform with them during Navratri, as artists were quickly booked with various groups during the season.

My first Navratri tour in 1991 remains unforgettable. We performed multiple shows throughout the festival, traveling from city to city, each day bringing its own unique experiences. I vividly remember one show that started at 1 AM and went on until 4 AM, with the crowd stretching as far as the eye could see.

During this tour, I also had the opportunity to perform with Uttara Kelkar Ji for two shows. The first was near Chhindrapur at a cement factory in Gugus, where I was asked to travel with her and look after her during the journey. We had wonderful conversations, and she appreciated my singing and blessed me. The second show was in Nagpur at the Engineers Association ground. The final show of the season took place in Parasia on the night of Dussehra, where we followed the Marathi tradition of giving gold on stage. The crowd was simply amazing.

Sunbeat Orchestra

After BG’s Group closed, I performed with Sunbeat Orchestra for about 2 years. These shows were mainly local in Nagpur and formed an important chapter in my orchestra phase.

S. Kumar & His Orchestra

After a few years, during a period when I was increasingly focusing on my personal ghazal performances, I joined S. Kumar and His Orchestra. I performed with them for several years, including Navratri and other orchestral shows.

In 2001, I also got a chance to perform a few shows with popular Hindi and Marathi film star Varsha Usgaonkar, along with S. Kumar and his orchestra, during the Navratri season. I even sang some duet songs with her, which made the experience even more memorable. That collaboration brought a special charm to the festivities and remains one of my fond memories.

MP Tour 2003

During Navratri 2003, we performed in Bhilai at the ACC Cement colony, followed by another show at an interior location in Balaghat. After one of these shows, my health deteriorated. I returned to Nagpur in a goods vehicle the next day. Upon arrival, I developed a very high fever, and my condition became serious on the night of Diwali. The doctor asked if I had traveled to MP, as Falciparum mosquitoes are found there. Thankfully, timely medical care saved me.

Focus on Ghazal Shows and Recordings

After this experience, I stopped performing regularly with orchestras and shifted my focus entirely to my personal ghazal shows and recordings. Gradually, my ghazal performances and recording work increased, becoming the central focus of my musical journey.

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Navratri 2025 and the Joy of Memories

Now, as I celebrate Navratri 2025 amidst music and devotion, these memories continue to inspire me. Every show, every crowd, every performance during my orchestra days laid the foundation for my musical experiences. For me, Navratri is not just a festival—it is a celebration of music, memories, and the journey of life.

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#Navratri2025 #OrchestraMemories #ShishirParkhie #GhazalJourney #NagpurMusic #MusicAndDevotion

My First Akashvani Concert – A Childhood Musical Journey

 ✨ At the age of 11, I performed my first Akashvani concert in Jamshedpur during the International Year of the Child (1979). Guided by Akashvani Ranchi’s musicians and inspired by my mother, this concert marked the true beginning of my lifelong journey in music.

Symbol of All India Radio – a gateway for countless artists, including my own beginnings

Music has been an inseparable part of my life from the very beginning. My mother, Pratima Parkhie, sang regularly for Akashvani Ranchi, and I grew up surrounded by melodies. Even as a tiny child, musicians from Akashvani would hold me on their laps or make me sit with them while they played—moments that forged a special bond between me and the world of music. Perhaps that’s why the artists at Akashvani always welcomed me with so much warmth and encouragement. 

Among the mentors who shaped my early years, Shri Prabhakar Sonwalkar, a senior music producer at Akashvani Ranchi, holds a special place. He loved and encouraged me since childhood, and during shows in Bokaro Steel City, our home often became a temporary stay for him and other musicians. Those visits were invaluable, allowing me to absorb countless songs and ghazals directly from these gifted artists.

I also had the privilege of learning from Pt. Kashi Mishra, a sarangi player at Akashvani Ranchi, who stayed at our home when I was very young. He taught me a Kabir Das bhajan, “Kuch Lena Na Dena, Magan Rehna”, and the melody he shared has stayed with me to this day. 

• The official emblem of the International Year of the Child 1979 — celebrating the bond between adult and child

All of these experiences culminated in a defining milestone: my first Akashvani concert at the age of 11, held in Jamshedpur, at a bustling auditorium as part of the International Year of the Child (1979) celebrations. Artists from several other cities participated, making it a vibrant, inspiring musical event.For my performance, I presented two special pieces:

• The bhajan, “Bhaj Man Ram Charan” by Tulsidas, set to music by my mother, Pratima Parkhie.

• The ghazal, “Nazar Ki Pyaas Bujhao Ki Raat Jaati Hai” by shayar Shamim Farooqui, taught and composed for me by Shri Prabhakar Sonwalkar.

My senior from St. Xavier's Bokaro, Ajay Ponkshe, also performed classical music and received praise for his artistry. Leading newspapers of that time covered the event, highlighting the talent and energy of the young performers. This concert was a defining experience in my childhood and gave me the confidence to continue pursuing music with dedication and passion.

Looking back, these experiences—from being surrounded by musicians as a child to performing on stage at 11—were foundational to my musical journey. Akashvani Ranchi and its artists not only provided opportunities but also guided and inspired me. Those moments instilled in me a lifelong love for ghazals and classical music, shaping the singer I am today.

My First Solo Ghazal Concert: A Navratri Memory at 15

 

It was the autumn of 1983, during Navratri, when I was just 15 years old, that I had the unforgettable opportunity to perform my first solo ghazal concert. We were living in Bokaro Steel City then, in our home at Cooperative Colony. The colony had around 400–500 houses, with a large ground at the center where the Triveni Puja Samiti organized grand Durga Puja celebrations each year. That year, I was given the stage for a solo 90-minute ghazal performance.

From my childhood, I was deeply drawn to ghazals. My parents played a pivotal role in nurturing this love. My mother was associated with Akashvani Ranchi, where she often sang songs, ghazals, and bhajans from lyrics provided by the radio station. My father together with my mother composed the music for them. From these, I carefully chose a few ghazals to present at this concert. Alongside, I had spent countless hours listening to records and cassettes—rewinding, forwarding, and absorbing the nuances of the voices of Jagjit Singh, Pankaj Udhas, Talat Aziz, and Anup Jalota.

Music was always around me. My father noted down timings of ghazal programs on the radio so he could listen late into the night, and I often sat with him. Friends also played a role—my classmate Saurabh Chandra had a fine collection of ghazal records, while my father’s friend, Kamat Kaka owned LPs that I visited often to listen and learn. At home, a Panasonic two-in-one tape recorder gifted by my uncle from the US became my constant companion in practice.

When I look back, I realize how much the environment influenced me. At school, my history teacher, Dasgupta Sir, passionately explained Mughal history, and it was through him I first came across Bahadur Shah Zafar’s poetry. In a school gathering, I once sang Lagta Nahin Hai Dil Mera Ujre Dayaar Mein, which earned me warm appreciation. These small moments built my confidence step by step while I was studying at St.Xavier's School, Bokaro Steel City.

For my first concert, I was fortunate to have three senior musicians accompany me. On tabla was Surjeet Sinha, widely respected for his beautiful playing; on harmonium, Rana Jha ji, a renowned guru of classical music in Bokaro; and on guitar, Bapi da, who lived just behind our lane and later went on to play professionally in Mumbai and Kolkata. Having such accomplished artists support a young performer like me was a blessing.

That evening, I sang ghazals that had become a part of me—Jagjit Singh’s Hothon Se Chhu Lo Tum from Prem Geet, Talat Aziz’s Raaste Yaad Nahin, Rehnuma Yaad Nahin, and an Anup Jalota ghazal, Kamsin Ho Mohabbat Ki Baatein, along with a few others that I had picked up from my parents’ compositions and the popular ghazal repertoire of that time.

I still remember being handed ₹300 as an honorarium for that performance. I divided it equally among the three senior musicians who had accompanied me, as a token of respect for their guidance and generosity. For me, their blessings were the real reward.

Now, as Navratri unfolds once again, memories of that first solo concert come rushing back. It was not just a performance—it was the beginning of a lifelong journey with ghazals, nurtured by family, teachers, friends, and the musical environment of my early years.